Highlandhearts

I've spent the whole morning on the internet which was a bit frustrating as our broadband signal strength is so low up here.  I was searching for the cheapest way to get down south to visit everyone in the one trip.   It is approx 560 miles to get to my daughter's in the Midlands and then I want to visit my mother in the West country and this will be probably be the only trip I can afford to do till next year.  The diesel cost of my last trip to pick up the Grandchildren in July cost £200 and to get to my mums from there by train and bus was another £70 so this time I am budgeting to do the trip for half of that - £135. Well after a lot of searching I managed to get a train south from Inverness to a station less than an hour away from my daughter's for £33.00!  I couldn't believe it and when I went to actually book the ticket it was reduced further to £30.70!  Amazing price as its usually way over £...

The time has been flying since my last post, they say it goes quicker when you get older and I can't work out why but it really does! Last weekend we went to visit some friends who live on the Black Isle which is not too far from Inverness.  We headed for the beach which is 5mins walk from their house, the tide had just gone out so we walked along searching for sea glass.  Took this picture of my OH who kept searching for me whilst I had a rest and sat on a bench!   It was a bit misty to start with but soon the sun came through.  We headed back to sit in their garden and have a good catch-up, our friends are planning their wedding so lots to discuss.  Later on we went for a walk in "Fairy Dell" to get an appetite for dinner  and ended up here This was the first waterfall we came across, I couldn't make it to the second one further on, I only had flip-flops on and couldn't climb up the steep steps properly (sounds silly but I am sure my fee...

Our supermarkets are 26 miles away and there is a choice of Lidl, a small Tesco and a small Asda. To go shopping we have to put £10 for diesel in the car before we start but last year Tesco started a delivery service to our area and this works out cheaper for us to use as I usually get it on a £3 - £3.50 time slot.  My food budget for 3 adults works out at £40 p/wk although I do not always get it weekly as we are both self-employed and money comes in erratically and covering bills when due comes first.  My food budget also has to include personal items such as shampoo etc. plus I have 3 cats to feed so I always look out for offers and coupons I can use to stretch my budget. Last week I got an email from Tesco giving me £20 off a £50 shop!  This was too good to miss so I ordered and I also got to use another £5 off voucher plus a 29p price saving promise so my shopping came to a grand total of ........   yep...£28....

I haven't blogged for a little while so time for a little catchup on what I have been doing lately. Last week I was working Monday to Friday which was good as I am self-employed and work can be variable.  I have had a few jobs since I moved up here but they have been mostly seasonal so currently I work for a family member in her embroidery business doing logo's for schools and clubs.  This is also seasonal but does give me some work throughout the rest of the year. Sometimes I supplement my income making hearts, hence the name of my blog, this has been quite successful other years with orders for weddings, birthdays etc.                                               this is my best seller, various colours  ...

We had a fabulous two and a half weeks with our Grandchildren, the time went too fast and they left Friday night for the long journey home again.  After a bit of a sleepless night, I got up Saturday morning feeling very depressed as the house was so quiet and I missed their chatter and cuddles and the mess that four children create!  Being so far away from them and my daughter is very hard sometimes but they love coming to visit us and the rest of the family.  I decided that I would have a quiet potter about day so after a tidy up and with the washing on going, it was time to get on with a crafting project I still had to finish for a family Birthday next week.  I have been making a "blooming flower cushion" following a tutorial on the very talented Lucy's blog  attic24.typepad.com   and I am very pleased with the result and this is the back view Its a great stash buster and the only cost was the cushion pad which I got of...